SC should take cognizance of poaching charge against BJP: Congress

New Delhi: Slamming BJP over allegations that it was trying to poach Aam Aadmi party MLAs, Congress said it had "betrayed" the people and voiced hope that the Supreme Court would take cognizance of the matter and order fresh assembly elections in Delhi.

Vowing that it will fight in the streets against BJP's attempt to form a government in Delhi "by hook or by crook", the party claimed the "absolute naked power hungry face of the BJP" was now exposed.”

"It clearly shows that the BJP is forming the government simply by purchasing MLAs,” Congress general secretary Ajay Maken said.

"We expect that the Supreme Court will take cognisance of the matter. We also hope that keeping in view this incident, the Supreme Court will order for fresh elections in Delhi after the dissolution of the Assembly," he said.

The Supreme Court will be hearing a petition of AAP for holding fresh polls in Delhi on September 9. Maken said that the apex court should take cognisance of the tape of the purported sting operation in which AAP MLA from Sangam Vihar Dinesh Mohania was allegedly offered Rs 4 crore by Delhi BJP Vice President Sher Singh Dagar to switch sides. BJP and Dagar have rejected the allegations.

Congress demands that the Delhi assembly be dissolved and fresh elections held as soon as possible, he said

"We will come on streets to fight it out if the BJP tries to form a government in this manner through horse trading. We will not allow BJP to form a government through horse-trading ...this is betrayal with people. There cannot be a bigger attack on democratic values," he said.

Refusing to attach any importance to the BJP rejecting the charges levelled by AAP, Maken, who is the Communication Department Chairman and a senior Congress leader from Delhi, said that the allegations have been made against a senior leader of BJP.

Replying to questions, he said all MLAs of Congress are with the party and none of them will support a BJP government in Delhi.

Party spokesperson Sandip Dikshit said that the sting operation showed the "absolute naked power hungry face of the BJP. It is disgusting.

"We have been hearing this kind of thing for a while. I am not at all surprised with what Arind Kejriwal showed today morning...we condemn it in all possible means. Authorities, whatever, must take cognizance of it," he said.

The Congress spokesperson also tried to link the incident with a number of his party leaders joining the BJP on the eve of Lok Sabha elections.

"This is not just here. BJP is doing this across India. A large number of our party leaders moved away just before elections. In some cases like in Madhya Pradesh, our candidates switched over to BJP.

"So obviously everywhere money is being used especially under the new leadership of the BJP. The completely immoral face of the BJP has come to fore," Dikshit alleged.